The race started from Liverpool on Sunday September 18th (2005) at 12 noon. The clippers returned in July 2006.
The clippers racing in the 2005-06 race are identical 68 foot (20.8 metres) Dubois clippers with a single 90 foot mast that weigh 30 tons. The clippers that took part in previous races were slightly smaller. Pictures taken from the 2002-03 race.
My next door neighbour met me at Seacombe and we took the ferry to Liverpool. The skipper of the yacht, Mark Tailer let us on the boat and we were shown around the jersey clipper by someone who knew my next door neighbour. The kitchen area was suprisingly big, I guess it is important to eat well when the voyage is likely to take ten months. It is important that the victuallers make sure there is plenty of food on board in preparation for each race. It is important that all kitchen equipment is working. The bunks were cleverly designed to prevent people "falling" out of bed in rough weather.
I was at Seacombe in time to see the start of the race on september 18th.
